Process and apparatus for heating steam



M. M. DURKEE Filed Aug. 8, 1930 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAMMay 7, 1935.

Fl c5. -1- INVENTOR.

Z ATTORNEY.

Fla-3- Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESS ANDAPPARATUS FOR HEATING STEAM Application August 8, 1930, Serial No.473,825

4 Claims.

This invention relates in general to the heating of gases, and while theinvention will hereinafter be described as embodied in a process andapparatus for the heating of steam for purifying oil,

it will be readily manifest that it has other valuable applications anduses.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of animproved process and appa ratus for the superheating of steam to desiredtemperatures without corresponding increase of pressure.

An example of the intended use of this invention is the provision ofsteam heated to desired specified temperature for 'upward percolationthrough an oil to accomplish the distillation of objectionable odors andflavors, the oil being maintained under a vacuum. My inventioncontemplates in this regard the accurate maintenance of the desiredtemperature, for example, in the neighborhood of 400 F. independently ofthe degree of vacuum maintained.

In the practice of this and similar industrial processes it has usuallybeen the custom to superheat the steam by passing it through pipes orflues in a furnace fired by coal, coke, oil, natural gas, or like fuel.These constructions are of course expensive and they operate atrelatively low efficiency because of the circumstance that the steam inpassing has required excessive temperatures in order that there be asufficient ab-' sorption of heat by the steam.

This invention contemplates the utilization of the kinetic energy of themoving steam to temporarily increase the steam pressure at and about theheating element or elements to the end that the individual particles ofsteam may more readily absorb the heat from the heating elements andtransfer it throughout the steam body.

Another important object of the invention is the provision for theheating of steam and other gases which will permit of the-economic andpractical use of readily controlled, electrical heating elements for theheating. An ancillary and im- 0 portant purpose of the invention is theprovision of a process for the heating or superheating of steam whereinthe heating may be accomplished by electrical resistance members, thesteam being subjected to their action in such manner and fashion as topermit of their heating action without danger of overheating of theelements and their resultant deterioration.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Figure 1 is a. vertical, transverse sectional view through an apparatusembodying my present invention, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially upon the line A--A of Fig. 1.

For the purpose of illustrating my present invention I have shown on thedrawing an appara- 10 tus, comprising a heating chamber ll, generally ofcylindrical form and closed at its top by a plate 12, the body of thechamber being provided with an outwardly extending flange 13 to whichthe top i2 is secured by bolt and nut assemblies M. A 15 plurality ofelectrical resistance members or elements l5 are arranged to extend downfrom the top l2, and these are or may be of hair-pin type.

In the present instance the resistance members l5 are arranged in pairsand a plurality of plugs I6 are threaded into the top I 2 and removablycarry and support the resistance elements.

Steam is introduced into the heating chamber H from a supply pipe I! andat opposing points in the circumference of the chamber l I, two branchesbeing provided in the present instance and generally indicated byreference character l8. These branches communicate with the interior ofthe chamber l l at opposed sides at 20 and direct the steam to theheating members l5. In flowing through the inlets 20 by reason of thekinetic energy of the steam, the pressure at and around the elements istemporarily increased, bringing the steam particles in their convectionaction into intimate contact with the presented surfaces of theresistance members. Expressed otherwise, the steam is injected into thearea heated by the resistance members in oppositely directed jets whichimpinge each other and create a concentration and turbulence thatthoroughly mixes and efliciently heats the steam.

A partition or constrictor means I I is arranged below the inlets 20 andabout the depending resistance hair-pin members, as may be seen in Fig.

3. The constrictor member I l' confines the steam 4 in its downwardmovement through the heating chamber to close contact with the heatingmembers l5, so that final heating is accomplished. The heating chamber lI is restricted at its lower end at IQ for connection to anoutletdelivery pipe 2|, which conveys it or may convey it to the oil to bepurified.

Reference character 22 indicates a cable leading from a source ofelectric power. This cable passes to a combined indicator andthermostatic switch 23, from which a cable 24 leads to the upper ends ofthe resistance elements through which it completes the heating circuits.Parallel leads 25 extend from the cable 24 to each plug assembly ofresistance elements. The resistance elements of each plug assembly areconnected in series with each other and in parallel across the wires ofthe cable 24. A pyrometer 26 is arranged in the heating chamber l! nearits bottom, and in position for control by the temperature of thepassing steam. The pyrometer 26 is connected by a cable 21' with theswitch 23 and, as will be readily understood, controls the delivery ofcurrent to the heating elements in accordance with the temperature ofthe steam.

By reason of the conjoint delivery of the steam of the heating elementsfrom a plurality of opposed outlets, the pressure of the steam incontact with the heating elements is increased and heat is absorbed fromthe heating elements at a rate producing high heating efiiciency, andalso preventing overheating of the elements and their consequentdeterioration.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. The method of heating a gas which comprises injecting a plurality ofjets of gas from different directions into a zone so that the jetsimpinge each other and create a turbulence in the zone, simultaneouslyheating the gas at a plurality of points in the zone. causing the gas toflow in a direction at right angles to the plane of the jets and furtherheating the gas during its flow.

2. The method of preheating steam to a high temperature at a lowpressure which comprises injecting oppositely directed jets of steaminto a zone ofiering a low resistance to the flow of steam so that theopposed jets impinge each other and create a turblence in the zone,simultaneously heating the steam at a plurality of points in the zone,causing the steam to flow in a direction at right angles to the plane ofthe jets and further heating the steam during its flow.

3. An apparatus for superheating steam comprising an open-ended chamber,a head for closing the chamber having a plurality of heating elements ofsmall diameter depending therefrom and forming a labyrinth of heatingelements in the chamber that offer a low resistance to the flow of thesteam, a plurality of conduits connected with the chamber on oppositesides for introducing jets of steam into the labyrinth of heatingelements and toward each other whereby the oppositely directed jetsimpinge each other and create a turbulence for mixing the steam andcausing a more efiicient heating.

4. An apparatus for superheating steam comprising a vertical chamberopen at the top and having a constrictor means extending inwardlyintermediate its ends, a head for the open end of the chamber having aplurality of heating wires depending therefrom and extending to aposition below the constrictor means, a plurality of 0ppositely disposedconduits connected with the chamber above the constricture forintroducing jets of steam into the area of heating wires and toward eachother, and an outlet conduit at the bottom of the chamber whereby theoppositely directed jets impinge each other and create a turbulence thatmixes and heats the steam before it passes outwardly through theconstrictor means and in the direction of the heating wires toward theoutlet conduit.

MAURICE M. DURKEE.

